86 
TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 
the undertaking, he hoped that that gentleman would receive the 
same support from the Government which he had done. 
‘‘ Mr. Consul Petherick said .... and although he 
was engaged in trade, and had five or six establishments to look 
after, yet he would not allow his friend to remain in the lurch while 
it was in his power to assist him. He was also firmly persuaded 
that unless Captain Speke were met by himself, or by boats duly 
armed and provisioned, he would not be able to bring his party 
down the Nile, owing to the absence of food and conveyance. For 
only two months in the year did boats remain at Gondokoro, and 
unless he arrived within these two months, December and January, 
he would find no boats there to bring him down to Khartoum. He 
would also find himself among the Barri, a most savage tribe who 
would not give themselves the trouble to cultivate grain, and for 
the last five or six years had been so unable to sustain themselves 
that they had been compelled to barter ivory for grain. 
In assisting Captain Speke, the only thing he required of the 
Government was that they should allow him sufficient money to 
enable him to place a couple of w^ell- armed and provisioned boats 
at the service of Captain Speke, and to retain them at Gondokoro 
until his ar rival. 
On or about April 18th, pursuant to invitation, I accompanied 
Captains Speke and Grant to Jordans,^^ in order to spend in their 
company the last few days of their sojourn in England. I cannot 
refrain here from mentioning the most amicable relations that 
existed betw^een us ; and it was upon this occasion that I personally 
promised Speke, not only to do my utmost to support him in his 
arduous undertaking, but, as long as life lasted, never to desert 
him. They left England on April 27th; and how I kept my 
promise these pages will show. 
